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WHY NEW CONTRACT FOR AUTOMATION
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Ken
    Why the need for the Home Automation contract.  Can't we use the Residential All in One contract?
TL
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Response
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    Not all home automation companies install security systems.  Keep in mind that you need a license in most states to sell and install alarm security systems.  Home automation equipment, if not connected to security systems, does not require an alarm license.  The company may be required to obtain a low voltage license, a home improvement license or some other other license or registration, and we will be checking for that when we prepare your Home Automation and Integration Agreement; we will be customizing it state by state for compliance with laws you need to comply with or at least know about from a contractual perspective.  
    Providing security systems presents an entirely different level of exposure to liability than home automation does.  While it is true that a system that fails to maintain sufficient heat and fails to warn the end user could result in damages, even that is not the same level of exposure that failed security systems or services would expose you to.  The Home Automation and Integration Agreement does have protective provisions, and will limit your liability, but not as aggressively and not in the same transparent way as the All in One alarm agreements.  I suppose one way to look at it is that there is less exposure so less protective provisions.
    On its most basic level, you can't expect your customer to agree to allow you access to install entertainment equipment or life style equipment with bells and whistles and at the same to agree that you have no responsibility for any damage you may cause.  It's one thing if my drapes won't close when I push the button or if my coffee isn't ready at 8am, but another if the drapes fall off the wall the day after you leave.  
    If you are installing any security you need to use a security agreement, the All in One forms.  You can use those forms when installing security and home automation.  But if no security is part of the home automation devices and systems then use the Home Automation and Integration Agreement.
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FOLLOW UP ON UNLICENSED DOOR KNOCKERS IN TEXAS
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Ken
    I read there is another summer sales company in Texas. The writer 
claims that on the Private Security Board website it lists their license 
as "Incomplete." There are statutes and rules regulating summer sales 
companies and their sales people. They must be licensed, both the company 
and the sales people, and must clearly present their pocket cards while in the 
neighborhoods. The Texas Department of Public Safety, who is the 
enforcement arm of the PSB is fully aware of summer sales companies in 
the alarm industry and has in the past, vigorously enforced regulations 
on non licensed companies. My recommendation is to turn in a complaint 
to the Private Security Board on our website, get in touch with the 
TBFAA, our state association, and call a local news agency to inform them 
of these tactics..The public should know about them. If they are 
properly licensed and follow regulations, they are free to market their 
product. However, if they are violating Texas law, they need to be exposed.

Charlie Crenshaw
Commissioner, Texas Private Security Board
Crenshaw Alarm and Signal Corporation
Austin, Texas
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RESPONSE
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    Thanks to Commissioner Crenshaw for his diligence.
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MORE COMMENT ON DOOR KNOCKERS
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Ken
    The summer door knockers arrived in Chico, Ca. summer of 2013. Our customers called and informed us of the lies. " Your system is old and your neighbor had his phone lines cut".  They had a map of the area and pointed out the house that was attacked. Unfortunately for Vision Security from Utah the house in question was also owned by my customer.  Every Vision Sales person had the same line they used. Every time a customer called I ran to the site and accosted the Vision Security student. I collected their names and ran their licenses. I searched Facebook. 
    Some of the students and their supervisors were from the marketing department at Brigham Young University. It can't be possible, I wondered, would a religious university teach deceit and slander?  I filed a complaint with Ca. Bureau of Security and Investigative Services on every Vision employee. BSIS sent an agent to their office and posed as a potential employee. A short time later their office was closed and they moved on.  Their contracts are 5 years with a 5 year renewal if you missed the cancelation window. 
Leo Weiss, Eagle Security
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MOBILE TRAILER SECURITY AGREEMENT

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    Another form that we recently prepared is a mobile trailer security agreement.  This agreement is not being offered as a standard form because there are variables that should be modified company by company.  Call our Contract Administrator Eileen Wagda at 516 747 6700 x 312 or Jesse Kirschenbaum, Esq at 516 747 6700 x 307 to discuss this agreement form and its cost.  It's not expensive and it's worth it.
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